Making When Dinosaurs

[Tim]

Hi

There is a new magazine out about the making of When Dinosaurs Ruled the Earth. There is one tiny, but interesting, piece on the making of the QS scene.

Unfortunately, there were no photos to go with this.

[Fred588]

A very interesting find! I briefly experimented with vermiculite about 18 years ago. Its good for a very temporary pit, as was the case described, but it very quickly becomes waterlogged and sinks to the bottom.

[Chimerix]

Isn't vermiculite a substance mixed in with potting soil to help retain water in potted plants as well?

[Fred588]

Isn't vermiculite a substance mixed in with potting soil to help retain water in potted plants as well?

Its a mineral product made by heating (and expanding sorta like popcorn) crtain minerals. Among many other uses it is added to potting soil. I believe it does help hold moisture to some extent but that its main benefit is helping to keep the mixture light and aerated. Perlite is another soil emendment used for about the same purpose. Both have the serious hazard of potential contamination with asbestos, particularly when completely dry.

[A20]

Very interesting indeed. No wonder the scene went so fast.

[Duncan Edwards]

This is a great find. I've been digging around for behind the scenes stuff on that movie for years and never came across this. This account mentions the "safety" take that was normal in the event of processing or other technical issues. I wonder if the final cut that appears in the film is a composite of the two takes? Interesting. I'd love to find a photo of Imogene after they fished her out. Talk about what must have been a hot mess.

[Herzeleid]

I remember that scene well. As you say, it was all too brief, much like Cecile's demise in The Hound Of The Baskervilles . . . if only someone had saved the extra footage.

[Das]

Well, this is what happens when you leave things like this to amateurs. They should have called Dave L.

[Fred588]

Well, this is what happens when you leave things like this to amateurs. They should have called Dave L.

I am afraid both Dave and I would have been underage. I was just twenty when the movie was released (1970) which would have made me around 18 when it was filmed. And I think Dave would have been in elementary school.

[Tim Kelly]

Shame that Imogen Hassall never got any really good iconic roles; the only productions in which she was the female lead were a rather rubbish film called White Cargo, and an episode of The Saint where she played a pakistani model who helps Simon Templar expose a people-smuggling racket! Apart from that, she played a string of vampirised victims for Hammer
; the parts dried up in the 70s and she was reduced to a waitressing job in a Wimbledon winebar, ending her life via suicide on her 40th birthday in 1983, after, according to some versions, and testimony from her friends, having been raped. a sad end for an apparently nice girl who hurt nobody and really deserved better.